OnSat - Updates

A Special Note to Our Readers :
We are going to be adding a new column that will include comments from our readers regarding the wonderful world of satellite television. Whether you have a particular gripe about using your system or just want to praise how great you think your satellite system or a/v equipment or certain networks are, here’s your chance. Basically anything goes. Call it a satellite user ‘blog’ in print. It can also give our readers a chance to ask a question about their systems that perhaps another reader can answer or make recommendations based on their own experiences. Just send your comments to dishtalk@tripled.com.

Channel Update:
Here's the latest channel news:
NPS hopes to be offering the following W5 channels: FSC Soccer, FOX Business, FOX Reality, G4, Sprout, Style, and TVLand. They plan on switching Spike to G3, 620.
NPS has added Blue Highways (C4, 606) and The Golf Channel to their programming packages.
Nickelodeon’s Gas & Sports (GAS) on W5, 606 has been re-placed with The N Network.
The X4 Hits services that have been simulcasting on W5 will be available only on W5 effective June 1st.
AZN has gone off the air.
Showtime East has discontinued their analog signal on G5, 24.
ABC’s analog feed on Galaxy 28 (T8), 20 has reappeared.
Comedy Central is now located on G3, 624.
FoxReality West is on W5, 632.
Fox Business Network is now on W5, 582.
NPS now offers GAC on C3, 606 and W5, 800; HGTV East on C3, 607 and W5, 630 and Chiller TV on W5, 641.
SRL has added FUSE on W5, 803.
Discovery Times will change its name to Investigation Discovery (ID) on Sunday, January 27.
WOKIE is no longer active on T6-973, T6-988, or T6-999. The only remaining channel is at W3-958.
TENMax and TEN have ended their analog feeds on T6, 1 and T6, 7.
Fox News Channel is now available on G3-581.
HBO West left analog on December 13. HBO East is scheduled to leave analog on January 13. Their digital signals will remain on G1, 102 and 100.
WGN has ended their analog feed. NPS continues to negotiate for the network’s return to C-Band in digital on satellite G3.
Court TV has changed its name to TRU TV.
Discovery HD Theater has changed its name to HD Theater (HDT).
BluesHighway TV is now available on C4, 606.
Nebraska Educational TV has moved their signals from T5 to T6.
Cartoon Network on G1-8 has gone dark. Digital signal is on G3-600.
B-Mania TV/M2 (T7, 800) and Horse TV (C4, 605) have both shut down their services.
NPS now states that it is doubtful if Nickelodeon, Spike, ABC Family or the ESPN services will return to C-Band.
TLC East is on C3, 605.
MTV (G3, 803), Court TV (G3, 580) and USA (G3, 622) have joined Lifetime, Hallmark, CMT, VH-1, WPIX, WXIA, AMC, TV Land, A&E, CNBC and MSNBC on G3 and are available through NPS.
ESPN and ESPN2 may eventually be offered through NPS via IPTV. We have chosen to discontinue listing ESPN and ESPN2 in OnSat for the time being but will add them back if they are offered through 4DTV and IPTV in the future.
TMC East can be found on C3, 111. NFL Network is available on GB, 410.
The west feeds of Showtime Family Zone, Showtime Next and Showtime Women recently changed to a symbol rate not re-ceivable by the DSR-920 4DTV receiver. Owners of 922 receivers and the 905 sidecars are still able to get the GO and C3 125-127 channels.
OLN is now called Versus (VS.).
KWGN and WPIX are now CW network affiliates while KTVD is now an affiliate of MyNetwork TV.
FEMA/EENET weekly broadcasts can now be found every Wednesday at 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. (ET) on G3, 3. For more info call 1-800-500-5164 or log onto to http://www.usfa.fema.gov/training/prepnet/schedule/.

4DTV Reminder:
The new IPG download channel for 4DTV is now Galaxy 1 (G1) transponder 3. Units will now tune to G1 on the nightly update instead of G0.
To reset your receiver and download new channel map, simply go to G1, 3 and unplug the unit for 20 seconds. Receiver will go through warm-up cycle and then download the latest channel map. (Note: This procedure isn't necessary for the DSR 922).
Visit www.4dtv.com, www.callnps.com or www.skyvision.com for more information on 4DTV or contact your local dealer.

Web Update:
Our subscribers can now renew their magazine subscriptions online, search for their favorite TV programs with our customizable online listings, find movies starring their favorite actor(s), keep informed of feed changes before they appear in the printed guide and solve system problems with our popular Dr. Dish interactive index, all at www.onsat.com .
To share information on new Special Feeds, send your email to debbied.feeds@telus.net. Email Dr. Dish at jgaultney@tripled.com .
Dish owners seeking technical help online should try these informative sites: www.satellitehelp.com , www.satellite911.com and www.4dtv.com .

HDTV Update:
Nebraska Educational TV offers a digital HD signal on T6, 603 for those with 4DTV systems.
HBO is transmitting their HD signals on G9, digital 4DTV channels 118 and 120. Starz and Encore offer HD signals on Galaxy 9. Showtime is also offering an HD signal on G0, 120. These signals require the use of a HDD converter box.
For more information on HDTV you can visit www.ilovehdtv.com.

MPEG-2 Update:
World Harvest (WHT) has switched from analog to an MPEG-2 signal.
NASA has discontinued their analog feed in favor of several MPEG-2 signals. To continue receiving the FTA digital feeds, you will need to purchase an MPEG-2 receiver.
MPEG-2 receivers are available for $199-$649 at various locations. For more info check out www.global-cm.net (608) 546-2523; www.hobby.nu (902) 477-5458; http://skyvision.com (800) 500-9275; www.satcruiser.com (800) 862-5529;
Winser Enterprises (609) 265-8873; Cornerstone TV (WPCB) (412) 824-3930;
World Harvest (LeSEA Broadcasting) (574) 291-8200; http://cband.winnfreenet.com (online only).
For a satellite chart of free MPEG2 signals available, check out:
http://skyvision.com/pages/information_center/fta_mpeg2_no_am_east.html.

Upcoming Satellite Launches:
Galaxy 14 (G5) has replaced Galaxy 12 at 125 degrees West. Galaxy 12 remains at 125 degrees West as an in-orbit spare.
Galaxy 16 has replaced G4R at 99 degrees West and offers 24 KU and 24 C-BAND transponders.
AMC 18 was successfully launched and has been placed in service at 105 degrees West.
AMC 14 is scheduled for a launch in December, 2007 for service at 105.5 degrees West with 32 KU transponders.
AMC 21 is scheduled for launch between April and June 2008 for service at 125 degrees West with 24 KU transponders.
Galaxy 19 is scheduled for launch in 2008 for service at 97 degrees West with KA, 28 KU and 24 C-BAND transponders.
AMC 5R is scheduled fo launch in 2008 to replace AMC 5 at 79 degrees West with 24 KU and 24 C-BAND transponders.
For more launch schedules go to www.lyngsat.com.